WELLS, a city of England in Somersetshire, is situated at the south foot of the Mendip Hills, near the source of the river Axe. It consists of several parallel streets, intersected by others of a smaller size, which are neatly built and well paved. The prin cipal building is the cathedral which stands at the west end of the town, and is built in the form of the cross, its length being 380 feet from east to west, and 180 from north to south. It contains nine chapels, one of which, dedicated to the Virgin Nary, has gothic windows of stained glass and of great beauty. It is 52 feet long and 35 broad. In the centre of the transept is a quadrangular tower 178 feet high. The west part is flanked with two smaller towers 125 feet high, in one of which are six large bells. A short way south of the ca thedral is the bishop's palace, a fine and venerable pile of building. Its walls, flanked by bastions at the angles, enclose an area of seven acres. The deanery is a handsome building, and the houses for the prebendaries and vicars are good. The other
public edifices are St. Cuthbert's church, with its lofty and well proportioned tower, the market house and the town-hall, beneath which is Bishop Bub with's hospital. There is a charity school here for 20 boys and 20 girls, and some well endowed almshouses. The principal manufactures are those of knit stockings and lace. About two miles north west of \Veils is the remarkable cavern of frookey Hole, about 600 feet long. Its entrance is a small aperture near the base of a perpendicular rock about 200 feet high, and it contains in some places wide and lofty apartments. The population of Wells, consisting of the parish of St. Andrews, St. Cuthbert in and St. Cuthbert out, was in 1821, houses 1058, families 1275, families engaged in ag riculture 500, do. in trade 524, total number of in habitants 5888.